Blanche Doreen Latta Dillard

Blanche Doreen Latta Dillard, a native of Maury County, graduated to glory on Sunday, March 22, 2015 at Maury Regional Medical Center.

Blanche was born on October 20, 1926 in the Carters Creek community to the late Clarence Dewey Latta and Eddie Robinson Latta. She had three brothers: Shirley, Kenneth, and Dewey, now deceased, all from Columbia.

Blanche married Wallace Dillard on August 18, 1949, and the two shared a wonderful life together, including teaching at Whitthorne, until his passing in 2001. She received her Bachelor's degree from George Peabody College in Nashville. She was a long time teacher at Whitthorne Junior High and Middle Schools, a member of West 7th St church of Christ, and a volunteer at Maury Regional Medical Center.

Mrs. Dillard had many other ministries as well, including regularly carrying people to church in her car, sending hundreds of birthday, anniversary, and sympathy cards with enclosures, making fruit baskets and gifts for the sick, teaching Bible classes and visiting, and giving many hours of help, encouragement, and mentoring to those who needed it.

Mrs. Dillard was known for expecting much from those under her authority but imparting much more in return. If you were in her Phys. Ed class, you learned layups but also life lessons in abundance.

She is survived by her son Grant (Jan) and grandson Paul, Franklin, TN; nephews Ken (Bitsy) Latta, Lynville; Steve (Wanda) Latta, Columbia; David (Manon), Bristow, VA; Keith (Barbara) Dillard, Columbiana, AL; Bruce (Rhonda) Dillard, Florence, AL; Tim (CeCe) Dillard, Mountain Brook, AL; Evan (GiGi) Dillard, Hattiesburg, MS; Craig (Jodi) Dillard, Montgomery, AL; David (Ann) Dillard, Hyattsville, MD; Jon (Sarajane) Dillard, Memphis, TN; nieces Patty (Walter) Hawrenek; Bloomington, IN; Connie Latta, Brentwood, TN; Kathy Marsh, Milan, TN; Connie (Mike) Johnson, Woodstock, GA; Kristie (Todd) Thomas, Vernon, TX, and numerous great nieces and nephews.

The family will meet with with friends on Friday, March 27 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Williams Funeral Home in Columbia. Funeral services will be at 2:00 on Saturday, March 28 at 2:00 in the chapel of Williams Funeral Home, with visitation one hour prior to service. Burial will follow at Polk Memorial Gardens.

The family would also like to extend special thanks to the management and staff of Poplar Estates Assisted Living for their compassionate and extra mile care for Blanche for over seven years.

Memorials can be made in honor of Mrs. Dillard to Columbia Academy or Maury County Public Library.

Williams Funeral Home is assisting the family with local arrangements. Condolences may be shared with the family atwww.williamsfh.com